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Desertion Crisis Weakens Ukrainian Army Amid Ongoing War with Russia
KYIV: More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been charged under desertion laws since the Russian invasion in 2022, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. The mounting issue of troops abandoning their posts is exacerbating challenges for Ukraine’s military as it fights to reclaim and defend territory.
Desertion has left significant gaps in manpower at the front lines, military officials say, compromising defensive strategies and accelerating territorial losses. Entire units have reportedly walked away from combat zones, with some soldiers citing trauma, exhaustion, and frustration over bleak prospects for victory.
“This problem is critical,” said Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Kyiv-based military analyst. “This is the third year of war, and it will only grow.”
Deeply Rooted Challenges
The desertions highlight systemic problems within Ukraine’s military structure, including inadequate troop rotations, insufficient psychological support, and the pressures of an aggressive mobilisation campaign.
Nearly half of the deserters were reported in the past year, following a controversial mobilisation drive aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s fighting force. However, officials acknowledge the program has struggled to meet its goals, with an estimated 4,000 troops missing from the front lines in September alone due to injuries, deaths, and desertions.
Some soldiers, haunted by the traumas of war, fail to return after medical leave. Others defy orders during active engagements, leaving defensive positions exposed. Such incidents contributed to the loss of Vuhledar, a hilltop town Ukraine had defended for two years, in October.
“The percentage of deserters has grown exponentially every month,” said an officer from the 72nd Brigade, which suffered significant losses in Vuhledar due to desertions.
Psychological and Emotional Toll
Soldiers describe the relentless psychological strain of war. One deserter, who left his unit after medical leave, recounted the horrors of witnessing friends killed under heavy fire.
“You realize that any second, it can happen to you,” he said.
Another soldier, Serhii Hnezdilov, publicly announced his desertion after five years of service, citing broken promises of demobilisation. “Without an end term, military service turns into a prison,” he said.
Balancing Justice and Compassion
Military prosecutors and commanders reportedly prefer not to press charges against deserters, opting instead to persuade them to return. However, the State Investigative Bureau has pursued cases when soldiers repeatedly go AWOL.
Defense attorneys argue that psychological conditions often drive desertion. “Almost no healthy people are left in the infantry,” said attorney Tetyana Ivanova.
While the Ukrainian General Staff has promised psychological support for soldiers, many feel it is insufficient. The ongoing crisis underscores the human cost of prolonged conflict and the urgent need for systemic reforms to support Ukraine’s military forces.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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